Compositions comprising fenofibrate and atorvastatin

Abstract

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions in particulate form or in solid dosage forms comprising a combination of fenofibrate and the HMG CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin or a pharmaceutically active salt thereof, which upon oral administration provides a relative AUC 0-24 value (AUC fibric acid /AUC atorvastatin ) of between about 250 and about 10,000. The solid compositions are manufactured without any need of addition of water or aqueous medium and comprise at least 80% of the active substances fenofibrate and atorvastatin in dissolved form, or, optionally, atorvastatin in micronized form, in order to ensure suitable bioavailability.

1 . A particulate material comprising as an active substance fenofibrate and atorvastatin or a pharmaceutically active salt thereof, which provides a relative AUC 0-24  value (AUC fibric acid /AUC atorvastatin ) of between about 250 and about 10,000 when administered orally to a mammal, the AUC values being determined from steady state plasma concentrations of fibric acid and atorvastatin, respectively.  
     
     
         2 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the material provides a relative AUC 0-24  value of at least about 250, or at least about 500, or at least about 980, or at least about 2000.  
     
     
         3 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the material provides a relative AUC 0-24 value of less than about 10,000, or less than about 5100, or less than about 4000, or less than about 2100.  
     
     
         4 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the material provides an AUC 0-24 value of fibric acid (arithmetic mean) of at least 28,000 h·ng/L, or at least of about 40,000 h·ng/L, or at least of about 79,000 h·ng/L, or at least of about 118,000 h·ng/L.  
     
     
         5 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein at least about 80% w/w of the total amount of active substances is dissolved in a vehicle selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic, a hydrophilic and a water-miscible vehicles.  
     
     
         6 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein at least about 85% w/w, at least about 90% w/w, at least about 95% w/w, at least about 98% w/w, at least about 99% w/w or at least about 99.9% w/w of the total amount of active substance is dissolved in the vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . A particulate material according to  claim 1  which is free-flowing.  
     
     
         8 . A particulate material according to  claim 1  further comprising one or more oil-sorption materials, which when tested as described herein 
 i) has an oil threshold value of about 10% or more, when tested according to the Threshold Test herein, and at least one of    ii) releases at least about 30% of an oil, when tested according to Release Test and    iii) in the form of a tablet has a disintegration time of at the most 1 hour, when tested according to Ph. Eur. Disintegration test, the tablet containing about 90% w/w or more of the oil-sorption material.    
     
     
         9 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a melting point of at the most about 250° C.  
     
     
         10 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is hydrophobic.  
     
     
         11 . A particulate material according to  claim 6 , wherein the hydrophobic vehicle is selected from the group consisting of straight chain saturated hydrocarbons, paraffins; fats and oils such as cacao butter, beef tallow, lard; low melting point waxes such yellow beeswax, white beeswax, carnauba wax, castor wax, japan wax, substituted and/or unsubstituted triglycerides, acrylic polymers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is hydrophilic or water-miscible.  
     
     
         13 . A particulate material according to  claim 12 , wherein the hydrophilic or water-miscible vehicle is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols, polyoxyethylene oxides, poloxamers, polyoxyethylene stearates, poly-epsilon caprolactone, fatty acids, monoglycerides, diglycerides, fatty alcohols, fractionated phospholipids and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         14 . A particulate material according to  claim 12 , wherein the hydrophilic or water-miscible vehicle is a polyglycolized glyceride.  
     
     
         15 . A particulate material according to  claim 12 , wherein the hydrophilic or water-miscible vehicle is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinyl-polyvinylacetate copolymers (PVP-PVA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polymethacrylic polymers, cellulose derivatives including hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, pectins, cyclodextrins, galactomannans, alginates, carragenates, xanthan gums, NVP polymers, PVP polymers and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A particulate material according to  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle is a polyethylene glycol (PEG).  
     
     
         17 . A particulate material according to  claim 16 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of at least 1500.  
     
     
         18 . A particulate material according to  claim 12  comprising a mixture of two or more hydrophilic or water-miscible vehicles.  
     
     
         19 . A particulate material according to  claim 18 , wherein the mixture comprises a polyethylene glycol and a poloxamer in a proportion of between about 1:3 and about 10:1, preferably between about 1:1 and about 5:1, more preferably between about 3:2 and about 4:1, especially between about 2:1 and about 3:1, in particular about 7:3.  
     
     
         20 . A particulate material according to  claim 19 , wherein the poloxamer is poloxamer 188.  
     
     
         21 . A particulate material according to  claim 19 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of about 6000 (PEG6000).  
     
     
         22 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is non-aqueous.  
     
     
         23 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the vehicle is at least about 10% w/w.  
     
     
         24 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the vehicle is about 15% w/w or more, about 20% w/w or more, about 25% w/w or more, about 30% w/w or more, about 35% w/w or more or about 40% w/w or more.  
     
     
         25 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the fenofibrate is an analog thereof.  
     
     
         26 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of fenofibrate in the vehicle is at least about 10% w/w, based on the total weight of active substance and the vehicle.  
     
     
         27 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of fenofibrate in the vehicle is at least about 15% w/w, or at least about 16% w/w, or at least about 17% w/w, or at least about 20% w/w, preferably at least about 25% w/w, more preferably at least about 30% w/w, especially at least about 35% w/w, based on the total weight of active substance and the vehicle.  
     
     
         28 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of atorvastatin in the vehicle is at least about 1% w/w, based on the total weight of active substance and the vehicle.  
     
     
         29 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of atorvastatin in the vehicle is at least about 1.5% w/w, or at least about 2.5% w/w, or at least about 5% w/w, or at least about 7.5% w/w or at least about 10% w/w, based on the total weight of active substance and the vehicle.  
     
     
         30 . A particulate material according to  claim 1  having a moisture content of at the most about 2.5% w/w water.  
     
     
         31 . A particulate material according to  claim 1  having a moisture content of at the most about 2% w/w or 1% w/w water.  
     
     
         32 . A particulate material according to  claim 1  having a storage stability of about 2 months or more when tested at about 40° C. and about 75% RH.  
     
     
         33 . A particulate material according to  claim 1  having a storage stability of about 3 months or more, about 4 months or more, about 5 months or more or about 6 months or more when tested at about 40° C. and about 75% RH.  
     
     
         34 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the particulate material has a geometric weight mean diameter d gw  of ≧10 μm such as, e.g. ≧20 μm, from about 20 to about 2000, from about 30 to about 2000, from about 50 to about 2000, from about 60 to about 2000, from about 75 to about 2000 such as, e.g., from about 100 to about 1500 μm, from about 100 to about 1000 μm or from about 100 to about 700 μm, or at the most about 400 μm or at the most 300 μm such as, e.g., from about 50 to about 400 μm such as, e.g., from about 50 to about 350 μm, from about 50 to about 300 μm, from about 50 to about 250 μm or from about 100 to about 300 μm.  
     
     
         35 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , comprising one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients selected from the group consisting of fillers, disintegrants, binders, diluents, lubricants and glidants.  
     
     
         36 . A particulate material according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable additive selected from the group consisting of flavoring agents, coloring agents, taste-masking agents, pH-adjusting agents, buffering agents, preservatives, stabilizing agents, anti-oxidants, wetting agents, humidity-adjusting agents, surface-active agents, suspending agents, absorption enhancing agents.  
     
     
         37 . A particulate material according to  claim 35 , wherein at least one of the one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients are selected from the group consisting of silica acid or a derivative or salt thereof including silicates, silicon dioxide and polymers thereof; magnesium aluminosilicate and/or magnesium aluminometasilicate, bentonite, kaolin, magnesium trisilicate, montmorillonite and/or saponite.  
     
     
         38 . A particulate material according to  claim 37  comprising a silica acid or a derivative or salt thereof.  
     
     
         39 . A particulate material according to  claim 37  comprising silicon dioxide or a polymer thereof.  
     
     
         40 . A particulate material according to  claim 37  comprising AEROPERL® 300.  
     
     
         41 . A solid dosage form comprising a particulate material as defined in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         42 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  having a storage stability of about 2 months or more when tested at about 40° C. and about 75% RH.  
     
     
         43 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  having a storage stability of about 3 months or more, about 4 months or more, about 5 months or more or about 6 months or more when tested at about 40° C. and about 75% RH.  
     
     
         44 . A dosage form according to  claim 41 , wherein at least about 75% of the fenofibrate and/or the atorvastatin is released from the composition within about 45 min when tested in an in vitro dissolution test according to Ph. Eur. dissolution test (paddle) employing water with about 0.75% sodium lauryl sulfate as dissolution medium, about 50 rpm and a temperature of about 37° C.  
     
     
         45 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 44 , wherein the dissolution test is carried out after about 1 month of storage at a temperature of about 40° C. and a relative humidity of about 75%.  
     
     
         46 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41 , wherein the concentration of the particulate material is in a range of from about 5% to 100% w/w such as, e.g., from about 10% to about 90% w/w, from about 15% to about 85% w/w, from about 20% to about 80% w/w, from about 25% to about 80% w/w, from about 30% to about 80% w/w, from about 35% to about 80% w/w, from about 40% to about 75% w/w, from about 45% to about 75% w/w or from about 50% to about 70% w/w of the dosage form.  
     
     
         47 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 46 , wherein the concentration of the particulate material is about 50% w/w or more of the dosage form.  
     
     
         48 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  comprising a multiplicity of individual units such as, e.g., pellets, beads and/or granules.  
     
     
         49 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  in the form of tablets, capsules or sachets.  
     
     
         50 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  in the form of a tablet.  
     
     
         51 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 50 , wherein the tablet is coated with a coating selected from the group consisting of film coatings, modified release coatings, enteric coatings, protective coatings and anti-adhesive coatings.  
     
     
         52 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41 , wherein the active substances are embedded in a matrix that releases the fenofibrate by diffusion.  
     
     
         53 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 52 , wherein the matrix remains substantially intact during the period of drug release.  
     
     
         54 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41 , wherein the active substances are embedded in a matrix that release the fenofibrate by eroding.  
     
     
         55 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41 , wherein the active substances are released from the dosage form by diffusion through a substantially water-insoluble coating.  
     
     
         56 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  in the form of a polydepot dosage form, which—upon administration—disintegrates into a multiplicity of individual units from which the active substances are released.  
     
     
         57 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  having a moisture content of at the most about 2.5% w/w water.  
     
     
         58 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  having a moisture content of at the most about 2% w/w or 1% w/w water.  
     
     
         59 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  in unit dosage form, wherein the unit dosage form comprises from about 130 to about 170 mg of fenofibrate and from about 5 to about 80 mg of atorvastatin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         60 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  in unit dosage form, wherein the unit dosage form comprises about 160 mg of fenofibrate, or about 145 mg of fenofibrate or of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         61 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  in unit dosage form, wherein the unit dosage form comprises about 10 mg of atorvastatin, or about 15 mg of atorvastatin, or about 20 mg of atorvastatin, or about 30 mg of atorvastatin, or about 40 mg of atorvastatin, or of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of atorvastatin.  
     
     
         62 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41  in unit dosage form, wherein the unit dosage form comprises fenofibrate and atorvastatin or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and the weight ratio between fenofibrate and atorvastatin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is from about 2:1 to about 40:1.  
     
     
         63 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41 , which results in an increased bioavailability of fenofibrate relative to existing commercial fenofibrate dosage forms when administered to a mammal in need thereof.  
     
     
         64 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 41 , wherein the fenofibrate and/or the atorvastatin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is stable.  
     
     
         65 . A solid dosage form according to  claim 64 , wherein the fenofibrate and/or the atorvastatin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is present in an amount of at least 90%, or at least 95%, or at least 100%, relative to the amount prior to storage, when assayed after 3 months of storage at a temperature of about 40° C. and a relative humidity of about 75%.  
     
     
         66 . A method of manufacturing the solid oral dosage form of  claim 41  comprising the steps of: 
 i) Bringing a vehicle in liquid form, if applicable,    ii) Maintaining the liquid vehicle of (i) at a temperature below the melting point of the fenofibrate and/or the atorvastatin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    iii) Dissolving the desired amount of fibrate and atorvastatin in the vehicle of (ii) to obtain a solution,    iv) Spraying the resulting solution of (iii) onto a solid carrier having a temperature below the melting point of the vehicle to obtain a composition,    v) Mechanically working the resulting composition of (iv) to obtain particles, i.e. a particulate material, and    vi) Optionally subjecting the particulate material to conventional methods for preparing solid dosage forms.    
     
     
         67 . A method of manufacturing the solid oral dosage form of  claim 41  comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a particulate material comprising fenofibrate comprising:    i) Bringing a vehicle in liquid form, to obtain a liquid vehicle,    ii) Maintaining the liquid vehicle of i) at a temperature below the melting point of fenofibrate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    iii) Dissolving the desired amount of fenofibrate in the vehicle of ii) to obtain a solution,    iv) Spraying the resulting solution of iii) onto a solid carrier having a temperature below the melting point of the vehicle to obtain a composition,    v) Mechanically working the resulting composition of iv) to obtain particles, i.e. a particulate material containing fenofibrate,    b) obtaining a particulate material containing atorvastatin comprising the steps of;    i) Bringing a vehicle in liquid form to obtain a liquid vehicle,    ii) Maintaining the liquid vehicle of i) at a temperature below the melting point of atorvastatin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    iii) Dissolving the desired amount of atorvastatin in the vehicle of ii) to obtain solution,    iv) Spraying the resulting solution of iii) onto a solid carrier having a temperature below the melting point of the vehicle to obtain a composition,    v) Mechanically working the resulting composition of iv) to obtain particles, i.e. a particulate material containing atorvastatin, followed by the steps of    c) Mixing the particulate material containing fenofibrate and the particulate material containing atorvastatin, and    d) Optionally subjecting the particulate material to conventional methods for preparing solid dosage forms.    
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein a particulate material containing atorvastatin of step b) is obtained prior to obtaining a particulate material containing fenofibrate.  
     
     
         69 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein a particulate material containing atorvastatin of step b) is obtained simultaneously with obtaining a particulate material containing fenofibrate.  
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein a particulate material containing atorvastatin of step b) is obtained after obtaining a particulate material containing fenofibrate.  
     
     
         71 . A method of manufacturing the solid oral dosage form of  claim 41  comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a particulate material comprising fenofibrate comprising:    i) Bringing vehicle in liquid form to obtain a liquid vehicle,    ii) Maintaining the liquid vehicle of i) at a temperature below the melting point of fenofibrate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    iii) Dissolving the desired amount of fenofibrate in the vehicle of ii) to obtain a solution,    iv) Spraying the resulting solution of iii) onto a solid carrier having a temperature below the melting point of the vehicle to obtain composition,    v) Mechanically working the resulting composition of iv) to obtain particles, i.e. a particulate material containing fenofibrate,    b) Micronizing atorvastatin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, if applicable, followed by the steps of    c) Mixing the particulate material containing fenofibrate and micronized atorvastatin, and    d) Optionally subjecting the particulate material to conventional methods for preparing solid dosage forms.